Vegan diet: A diet devoid of all animal-derived products such as meat, dairy, eggs, and fish.

Vegetarian diet: A diet that may include dairy and eggs but no meat or fish.

Ketogenic diet: A very low-carbohydrate, moderate-protein, and high-fat diet with the objective of entering the metabolic state of nutritional ketosis.

So is a vegetarian or vegan ketogenic diet possible? Short answer: yes.The ketogenic diet differs from other diets in that it is not based around food groups you can or cannot eat; rather it is based on the macronutrient ratio your body requires to enter a state of nutritional ketosis (defined by an elevation of blood beta-hydroxybutyrate, the body’s primary ketone body). Thus, any style of eating can potentially be ketogenic, whether that is vegan, paleo, low FODMAP, etc.

When you are approaching the ketogenic diet from a plant-based perspective, look at what plant foods comply to the macronutrient ratios you are following and stick to those.

You can leverage any low-carb food as part of a ketogenic meal by simply adding oils, since oils are 100% fat. For example, a low-carb vegetable like broccoli does not have a ketogenic macronutrient ratio, but smother it in coconut oil, and it quickly becomes ketogenic. Just be sure to choose the right oils (most of which are plant-based). If possible, incorporate MCT oil into your meals. Oils will likely be your primary sources of fat on a vegan ketogenic diet.

Low-carb/nonstarchy vegetables

Try to incorporate these into every meal. Think leafy greens, lettuces, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cucumbers, celery, and zucchini. In addition to supporting a healthy gut microbiome, vegetables make it easier to consume more oils, and oils make vegetables taste better. It’s a win-win-win! Bored of steamed vegetables and salads? Add some variety!

Nuts & seeds

These are staples on a vegan ketogenic diet due to their versatility and convenience. Just beware: Some nuts contain more carbohydrates than you might think.

Yes, coconut is so good, it gets its own group. High fat, relatively low carb (depending on the product), and delicious—what’s not to like? There are so many ways to include coconut in a ketogenic diet: coconut oil, coconut butter, coconut cream, coconut flour, shredded coconut, for curries, coffee, and cakes. Coconut products to avoid on a ketogenic diet: coconut sugar/nectar, and coconut water due to their carbohydrate content.

Protein

Although a ketogenic diet only requires eating a moderate amount of protein, it is necessary. Finding plant-based, low-carbohydrate protein sources is difficult when you cut out grains and legumes, so keep a quality protein supplement on hand…plus they make fruit-free smoothies taste better! Relying on whole foods for protein comes at the cost of additional carbohydrates, which may be acceptable if you are following a modified ketogenic diet. Foods such as hemp seeds, tempeh, and pumpkin seeds can supply moderate amounts of protein without significantly overdoing it on the carbohydrates.

Grains and legumes--no breads, pastas, pastries, and no chickpeas, lentils, or any other beans.

Fruits--especially high-sugar-containing fruits such as bananas, grapes, and mangoes. If you must have some fruit, stick to a maximum serving of ~¼ cup of wild blueberries or raspberries. These tend to be lowest in sugar.

Starchy vegetables--potatoes, corn, beets, and all root vegetables should be removed or severely limited when following a ketogenic diet.

Meat & protein: low-carb protein powder, tempeh, nuts & seeds, ground nut & seed “meat.” Soy products can be controversial, so you may want to avoid relying heavily on tofu as your main source of protein. Tempeh is made from fermented soybeans, where the controversy associated with soy generally does not apply.

Tips & tricks

Think outside the box. You might be pleasantly surprised by what high-fat, low-carb plant-derived ingredients can mimic those not-so-keto ones. Craving pasta carbonara? Use zucchini noodles instead of grain-based pasta, and make your own sauce from tahini, nutritional yeast, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper. The key is to swap out high-carb ingredients for low-carb (and hopefully high-fat) alternatives.

Track everything you eat. There is no way to know how many carbohydrates you are eating without tracking your food intake. Download an app like Cronometer or My Fitness Pal to monitor accurately.

Monitor your ketones. A blood ketone monitor is a good thing to have on hand and can help guide your food choices. Ketone levels above 0.5 mmol/L indicate you are in ketosis; however, 1-3 mmol/L may be ideal.

Stock your freezer with “fat bombs.” We posted one of our favorite fat bomb recipes in this post. Keto-friendly desserts are ideal for times when you might be feeling restricted by your diet. They can remind you that a vegan keto diet is not so hard after all.

Join online communities. These are great for connecting with others that are on a similar journey as you and also a great place to find recipe inspiration. There are a number of vegetarian and vegan ketogenic groups on Facebook that are open for anyone to join.

Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a world where the answers to all our health questions were black and white, (“Eat this, and you will feel good; don’t eat this, or you will not feel good”)? Unfortunately, health is not black and white, and often we have to navigate through the grey areas to find the truth.

MYTH #1: A ketogenic diet increases your risk for cardiovascular diseaseThis myth is centred around the misinformation that saturated fat and cholesterol are the main causes of heart disease. Despite being shown that dietary cholesterol does not raise blood cholesterol1 and saturated fat has little correlation to heart disease,2 there is still a stigma around both. Cardiovascular risk does not boil down to a single biomarker, but rather encompasses a host of factors such as age, sex, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, smoking, blood pressure, glycemic control, and more. Several of these risk factors may be mitigated by lifestyle changes.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, as opposed to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, often gets a bad rap because the general understanding about cholesterol is that LDL cholesterol is the “bad” cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol is the “good” cholesterol. While this isn’t entirely misleading, what is misleading is referring to these as absolutes. LDL is usually misrepresented as the single factor that determines one’s risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), when in fact there is more to the LDL and CVD risk story much of which is still uncovered. The danger lies with the small, dense LDL particles (as opposed to large, buoyant LDL particles),3 which have been shown to be associated with CVD.4 It is not uncommon to see a rise in total LDL levels when following a ketogenic diet. Recently published results of a one-year study of patients on a well-formulated ketogenic diet showed that the ketogenic diet did not change total LDL particle numbers but rather caused a shift toward an increase in large, buoyant LDL particles and decrease in small, dense LDL particles,5 which is a good thing! With all of this said, there is still a lot that is not fully understood about LDL cholesterol in the context of a ketogenic diet. As previously stated, LDL is not the only biomarker to consider when determining risk for CVD. Working with a keto-savvy physician is recommended when considering a ketogenic diet.

When part of a weight management program including exercise and lifestyle modifications, the ketogenic diet can actually improve other biomarkers of CVD risk, such as weight,6 HDL cholesterol,6 blood pressure,5 blood levels of saturated fat,7 HbA1c,5 inflammation,8 and more! In fact, research has shown that carbohydrate-rich diets pose more of a health risk than ketogenic diets. High-carbohydrate diets have been associated with increases in small, dense LDL particles and reductions in HDL cholesterol along with raised triacylglycerol levels, all of which contribute to increased CVD risk.9

​MYTH #2: The human body requires carbohydrates to survive​This one may be hard to wrap your head around considering there are actually some cell types that do have an absolute requirement for glucose and cannot use fats or ketones for fuel, such as red blood cells which lack mitochondria, the organelle required for ketone utilization. Dr. George Cahill, former professor at Harvard Medical School, studied human body fuel metabolism under prolonged starvation, pioneering the understanding of ketones as an alternative fuel source to glucose. His research demonstrated that even after 40 days of fasting, glucose levels in the participants were maintained, despite consuming no food (Figure 1).10 So where does the glucose come from to fuel these cells when carbohydrates are restricted, such as with a ketogenic diet?

Once you are keto-adapted (i.e. in a state of sustained nutritional ketosis), there are two primary sources that contribute to glucose maintenance. The first is from amino acids via a process called gluconeogenesis, where certain gluconeogenic amino acids are broken down into glucose. These amino acids can come from the protein consumed or stored in muscles. However, when ketones are circulating in our blood and the brain begins preferentially using ketones for the fuel, glucose requirements are reduced, therefore the need to break down muscle is reduced. This is one way ketones are muscle-sparing. The second source of glucose is from the glycerol backbone of triglycerides. Triglycerides are the storage form of fat and contain one glycerol backbone attached to three fatty acids. When the body breaks down stored fat while in ketosis, the fatty acids are detached from this glycerol molecule to make ketones, and the glycerol molecule can be converted into glucose, accounting for most of the body’s glucose requirements when keto-adapted.

MYTH #3: Nutritional ketosis puts you at risk for ketoacidosisThis is one of the most common myths, and despite being proven wrong time and again, people still want to believe that the ketogenic diet causes ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis is a valid concern given that it can be a life-threatening event where ketone bodies cause a dangerous imbalance in blood pH. However, this condition occurs primarily in those with type-1 diabetes or insulin-dependent type-2 diabetes, and is uncommon in healthy individuals with a fully functioning pancreas. Blood ketone levels are regulated by insulin, just as blood glucose is. When ketones reach their upper limit (~7-8mmol/L), a small amount of insulin is released from the pancreas to help prevent any further elevation in blood ketones, this system is designed to help the body avoid what is considered ketoacidosis (~15-25mmol/L). Nutritional ketosis (i.e. ketosis achieved via a ketogenic diet) is highly unlikely to put a healthy person at risk of reaching dangerous ketone levels. There are rare exceptions to this where ketoacidosis can occur in those adhering to a ketogenic diet in instances such as dehydration, sickness, and possibly pregnancy. However, it is always advised to start a diet and/or weight management program under the supervision of a physician or healthcare provider.

MYTH #4: You can’t do keto as a vegan or vegetarianThe ketogenic diet is commonly associated with a diet primarily composed of animal fats. However, nowhere is it stated that to follow a ketogenic diet, solely animal fats are required. There are plenty of plant-based fat sources that are highly suitable for a ketogenic diet such as avocados, nuts and seeds, olives, etc., and their oil derivatives. For those people who are vegetarian (but not vegan), the options extend even further to include eggs and dairy, both excellent sources of fats. Incorporating oils will likely be necessary for those following a completely plant-based ketogenic diet, as it would be very difficult to fulfil the macronutrient ratios needed to enter ketosis by utilizing only whole foods. This recent post outlines different types of dietary fats that may be used on ketogenic diet, as many of the sources mentioned in the post are plant-based. There are many low-carbohydrate vegetables that should also be included in a ketogenic diet regardless of whether animal products are part of dietary intake. These primarily include leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, lettuces, celery, cucumber, and zucchini. There are also many dairy-free alternatives to dairy fats such as nut milks, full-fat coconut milk, nut-based yogurts, and nut-based cheeses, all unsweetened of course!

MYTH #5: The ketogenic diet is the same as a low-carb dietMany people begin their ketogenic diet by cutting out carbohydrates and replacing those calories with protein-based foods. Those who are used to restricting dietary fats may approach a ketogenic diet and foods with hesitation. A ketogenic diet is a high-fat, moderate-protein, very low-carbohydrate diet. So, while you may be under the allotted daily grams of carbohydrates, the amount of fats and proteins consumed must be considered as well. Fats contain ~9 calories per gram, while protein and carbohydrates contain ~4 calories per gram. Given this information, portion sizes will likely be reduced when following a ketogenic diet, and this may be more of a psychological barrier than a satiety one. Adding additional fats to meals in the form of oil, butter, ghee, or full-fat dairy can transform a low-carbohydrate meal into a ketogenic meal. Consider adding quality fats to protein sources to slow the digestion of protein and attenuate any glucose/insulin responses that could potentially prevent one from “entering” or “kicking out” out of ketosis. If you are not entering ketosis following what you believe to be a ketogenic diet, void of almost all carbohydrates, you may be over consuming protein. In this case, adjust your macro nutrients to include higher quantities of dietary fats and less low-fat protein sources.​Resources:

​Disclaimer:This content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individuals should always consult with their healthcare professional for advice on medical issues.Submitted by the Metagenics Marketing Team

​Nowadays, thankfully, people are becoming increasingly aware that the low-fat era was one born under a false premise, yet there still seems to be a “fat phobia” lingering among the masses. To clear things up, remembering that “fat ingested does not equal fat stored” may help. This is along the lines of understanding that ingested protein does not automatically equal muscle growth.

In the metabolic state of ketosis, fat is the primary fuel source for the body, and the fat consumed contributes toward fuel for cellular function in much the same way carbohydrates act in glucose burning. Health issues associated with high-fat consumption are, more often than not, due to the combination of both high intakes of fat and carbohydrate, resembling a “Western Diet,” or “Standard American Diet (SAD),” both of which are commonly known to increase risks of obesity and insulin resistance. It is important that these should not be confused with the qualities associated with “good fats.”

How did this low-fat idea come to fruition?In the 1950, an American physiologist, Dr. Ancel Keys, hypothesized that consumption of saturated fat raises blood cholesterol levels and results in increased risk of myocardial infarct or heart attack. Over the years, dietary fat was pegged as the main underlying cause for not only heart attacks, but obesity. A new, low-fat food industry was created around the ideology that the “fat you eat is the fat you wear.” Ironically, in the same time that low-fat foods entered the market, the obesity-epidemic was born 1—maybe fat was not the culprit after all?

If we only consider the energy-balance equation (i.e. calories in vs. calories out) then it is easy to see how removing dietary fat would be the solution, given that fat contains 9 calories per gram, whereas proteins and carbohydrates contain roughly 4 calories per gram. What is often overlooked, however, are the hormonal responses and satiety factors, among others, associated with consuming fats, carbohydrates, and protein. Of course, calories still matter; you can’t eat more than you burn on the ketogenic diet and continue to lose weight, but it’s time to get over the misconception that consumption of dietary fat leads directly to stored body fat, without considering the other factors at play.

How eating fat can lead to burning fatThere are many hormones governing our metabolism, but there is one master dietary hormone, and that is insulin. Insulin is released from the beta cells of the pancreas in the presence of glucose (i.e. carbohydrates) to shuttle it away from the blood and into the cells, which lowers blood sugar levels. Insulin is also responsible for telling our cells, “Hey everyone! Glucose is available! There’s no need to breakdown fat for fuel; let’s save that for later!” In the body, carbohydrates are the primary instigator of insulin release, whereas protein only causes a very mild release, and fat causes almost no response.

When glucose levels are significantly lowered, such as that achieved with a ketogenic diet, insulin requirements are also reduced. In the absence of insulin, cells can use stored fat for fuel, either directly (e.g. free fatty acids) or indirectly via the generation of ketone bodies (i.e. ketogenesis). Think of insulin as the gatekeeper of fat metabolism: When insulin is present, the gates are closed and fat is trapped inside the cell; when insulin is absent, the gates are open and fat can be broken down for fuel.

Keeping your hunger in check on the ketogenic dietBesides suppressing insulin levels, the ketogenic diet is said to be very satiating, suggesting better management and control of the appetite. It can be argued that eating a ketogenic diet allows one to be more in tune with the body’s natural hunger signals. Furthermore, weight loss associated with the ketogenic diet is more often due to the natural calorie deficit that accompanies the diet since the ketogenic diet, by nature, has an appetite-suppressing effect.

Leave the roller coasters for the kids!A carbohydrate-based meal often produces a rapid postprandial rise and fall in blood glucose that leaves you searching for more food soon after eating. This happens because of the dependence on glucose for fuel, and when glucose is missing from the bloodstream, it sends the signals to the body that you need food now, sending you to the kitchen. It is almost like being controlled by glucose!

Following a ketogenic diet circumvents this glucose/insulin roller coaster in two ways:

Limiting dietary carbohydrates limits the rise and fall of glucose in the blood, which can trick the body into feeling hungry even in the fed state.

The state of ketosis provides the cells with ketones, an alternative fuel source. Ketones are made from stored body fat in the absence of food. This fuel is almost always available since you’re wearing it!

The ketogenic diet offers other beneficial effects in addition to weight loss such as sustained energy throughout the day. This could contribute to increased endurance, for example, having the stamina to go to the gym even after a long day at work. Having the capacity to exercise could be an indirect effect of ketosis that could certainly have a favorable impact on weight loss.